2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

Major in Political Science (BA/BS)

The political science curriculum incorporates a progression of required, core, elective, and capstone courses. Students are expected to have a foundation of required and core courses before taking elective and capstone courses, including internships. It is the personal responsibility of the student to complete the listed prerequisite of any course before registering for it. Please consult with the undergraduate advisor should there be any questions about the curriculum.

The department also has an accelerated BS/BA - MA program option. Please contact the department for more information on this option.

42-50 credits

Required Courses for all Concentrations

POLS 130American National Government

3

POLS 210Political Science Research Methods

3

Language requirement

3-11

The major requires intermediate proficiency in a major language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish) or a major classical language (Latin) by earning advanced placement or enrolling in and passing one course at the 201 level or above. Modern language courses taught in English are excluded. To enroll in 201-level language courses, students must achieve appropriate placement scores or complete prerequisite 100-level courses. Students may also satisfy the language requirement by taking American Sign Language (SNLN). Students pursuing this option must receive credit for SNLN 251, SNLN 252, and SNLN 253. Enrollment in SNLN 251 requires the permission of the Chair of the Department of Special Education.

Concentration 1: Political Science, 33 credits

15 credits from the following core courses

POLS 237State and Local Politics

3

POLS 280Comparative Political Systems

3

POLS 293International Relations

3

POLS 312Early Western Political Thought

3

or

POLS 313Modern Western Political Thought

3

POLS 342Problems in Public Policy

3

POLS 350Public Administration

3

3 credits from senior capstone

POLS 478Practical Experience in Government, Politics, or Public Service

3 TO 6

POLS 404Senior Thesis in Government and Politics

3

Students must select a senior capstone option upon completion of 60 total credits. 

15 credits from POLS (minimum of 12 credits in 300 and 400-level courses excluding 130, 210, 342, 350, 404, 478)

Students may not receive elective credit for POLS 130 or POLS 210.

Concentration 2: Economics, 33 credits

15 credits from the following core courses

POLS 237State and Local Politics

3

POLS 280Comparative Political Systems

3

POLS 293International Relations

3

POLS 312Early Western Political Thought

3

or

POLS 313Modern Western Political Thought

3

POLS 342Problems in Public Policy

3

POLS 350Public Administration

3

3 credits from senior capstone

POLS 404Senior Thesis in Government and Politics

3

POLS 478Practical Experience in Government, Politics, or Public Service

3 TO 6

Students must select a senior capstone option upon completion of 60 total credits.

9 credits from any 300- and 400-level POLS electives (excluding 342, 350, 404, 478)

6 credits from the following economics courses

ECON 311Environmental Economics

3

ECON 331Labor Economics

3

ECON 345The Economics of Government Budgets

3

ECON 346Economic Analysis of Legal Issues

3

ECON 348Health Economics

3

ECON 351International Economics

3

ECON 370Industrial Organization

3

ECON 371Economics Games of Strategy

3

ECON 201, Elementary Microeconomics, is the prerequisite for each of the above ECON electives.

Concentration 3: International studies, 33 credits

15 credits from the following core courses

POLS 280Comparative Political Systems

3

POLS 281Economic and Political Problems of Emerging Nations

3

POLS 290American Foreign Policy

3

POLS 293International Relations

3

POLS 312Early Western Political Thought

3

or

POLS 313Modern Western Political Thought

3

POLS 345National Defense Policy

3

3 credits from senior capstone

POLS 404Senior Thesis in Government and Politics

3

POLS 478Practical Experience in Government, Politics, or Public Service

3 TO 6

or

EURO 369Professional Experience

3

or

EURO 479Practical Experience

3

Students must select a senior capstone option upon completion of 60 total credits. 

15 credits from the following upper-division directed electives

POLS 384Politics in the British Isles

3

POLS 385Politics of the European Union

3

POLS 392The United Nations and International Organization

3

POLS 394Politics of Asia

3

POLS 395Politics of the Global Economy

3

POLS 482Government and Politics of Western Europe

3

POLS 486Politics of Russia and the Successor States

3

POLS 488Government and Politics of China

3

POLS 490International Law

3

POLS 493World Politics

3

POLS 494Politics of Terrorism

3

POLS 405Reading and Independent Study

1-6

Total Credit Hours: 42-50